“There’s a snowstorm coming!” or “There’s a snowstorm a-comin!”

What’s the difference? At least 8 inches.

You can typically determine the intensity of a snowstorm if the term “a-comin” is used.

Nature provides us with numerous signs on upcoming weather conditions if we know what to look for or interpret.

If cows are laying down, that’s a sign rain is on its way. If its windy and trees are showing the backside of their leaves, that’s another sign rain is on the horizon. The markings on a wooly worm indicate a mild or snowy winter. And using a-comin’ to describe a storm that means the storm is going to be a doozy.

You wouldn’t say “A snowstorms a-comin” for an inch or two of snow.

“A-comin” means major, big and intense. It means get your butt moving or your butt is going to get walloped by said storm.

It’s a signal to close schools, shut down factories and stores. Get the shovels and salt ready. Inside, stock up on batteries, candles, cheap wine, blankets, Oreos, Doritos, flashlights, more cheap wine, matches and toilet paper.

I have a theory about a-comin’ and the people that say it or run around in a frenzy getting overly prepared.

The a-comin’ crowd share a secret fantasy. They want to be a pioneer of yesteryear heading west and the untamed wilds.

They want to be out on the open prairie in one of those fly-over states with their covered wagons, campfire, and rabbit stew. And they need to be prepared and be ready to battle with Mother Nature.

Once the storm has swept into the area and the snow is starting to pile up, the person that gave warning about the storm switches gears and starts giving weather updates for the area and, for some unknown reason, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Ohio and Canada.

“Its 26 outside, 27 in State College. Harrisburg is at 27 and up in Blossburg it’s a chilly 22.” Twenty minutes later it’s the snow accumulations. Next there’s a blizzard horror story about someone they worked with, went to school with or knows them from the grocery store.

“That Joe guy I know, he went out to clear the sidewalk and was wearing shoes with no socks and he ended up with bad frostbite and lost seven toes.”

I don’t mean to be rude, but I really couldn’t care less if Dubois was getting pounded by snow or your great uncle Carl ended up with frostbite on his butt and his wife Lulu had to put ointment on it five times a day.

As if all that wasn’t enough, there’s also the tales of doom and woe waiting to happen. “The pine tree planted in 1936 is going to get weighed down with snow and will crash through the roof and we’ll freeze.” Or, “It will take a month full of Sundays until we’ll be able to get the car out of the driveway because the ice is that bad.”

The snow and ice won’t last forever and soon it will be spring. Come springtime, you won’t be hearing, “There’s a snowstorm a-comin’!’’ instead you’ll be hearing “There’s a rainstorm a-comin’!”